What is the benefit of taking a PhD? Does it give a better job oppertunity, more salary, or what?
Is it worth taking it?

hhehee...I am with you Martin, I am trying to self-comfort myself thinking it would be benefitial somewhere - coz i am sick from finding out what they do once they are finished...construction managemnt phD and that person got a teaching job in a uni for 21000£ which is probably lower than a job one would get after a regular undergrad!!!!!!

I agree with you. A diploma in information technology will get you a higher pay. You can earn more by working in the hospitality industry.

(Continued) PhD is for people interested in research and money is not at the top of their preference list. Besides, it gets you respect and you can always find a teaching position if you are not too fussy.

if money is your highest concern, then try to find a decent job; if degree is your highest concern, then try to get a phd; if you are really interested in some area, then do research and get the phd in contingent; if you don't know what you want exactly, wait and think; if you just want to be a student having planty of spare time and good student life, then study for phd, then, post-phd, then, maybe master in another subject, then, phd, then post-phd, then, master in another subject... :)

your salary will top 30K going into industry.

Your salary will always be less than an I T professional.

Salaries for PhDs depend on the subject studied & the career you choose afterwards. Many PhD students & post-docs complain about their career prospects & salaries, but it’‘s actually a trade off between quality of life & high salaries. Research is not for everyone & can involve long hours & weeks of endless disappointment. However, the satisfaction of pursuing your own intellectual & research goals every day is in stark contrast to the 9-5 lives of your average accountant. The opportunity to work abroad is probably unrivalled by most other careers. If you choose to leave academia after a PhD you will be qualified for a career in industrial research, which will pay very well (the net financial benefit compared to starting with the same company three years earlier may be hard to judge, but you’‘d never get a senior research position without a PhD in most companies). A PhD leaves you lablled as an expert (at least in the eyes of anyone who hasn’‘t got one). Many people move to work in technical writing, patents, publishing, teaching, technical sales, management consultancy & any other area where specialists come in handy – the rewards are various – work in teaching or publishing won’‘t pay that well – patent law or management consultancy will leave you obscenely rich.


Don’‘t do a PhD just to make money. There are easier & quicker ways to make a few quid & academia is not highest paid profession around. You should do a PhD because you are fascinated by your subject & would like to know more about it. Any other reason is a waste of time.

What they all seem to be forgeting is that you will still have your first degree along with everyone else, but you will have that extra edge many others dont. There will still be those well paid jobs out there in three years time and a doctorate will only help to open more doors. Go for it Martin, but be comited xxx

Mmh, why indeed, why do we do PhDs. It is not always about the money. As for me, it is probably an ego trip, trying to prove to myself that I can do it. Something about Maslow's heirachy of needs...